Expert thought

In view of the restrictive 2018 Luhansk People’s Republic statute, it is not surprising that some groups declined to apply for registration, while others were refused. The result is that many religious communities find themselves outside the law…. the 48 Baptist Union congregations have had to cease their activity altogether.

Religious Studies

In the context of recent events in the Orthodox world, disputes over the boundaries of church institutions often arise between the Patriarchate of Constantinople, Kyiv and Moscow. Ukraine accuses Russia of misappropriating the territory of the Kyiv Metropolis. In its turn, Moscow appeals to the fact that the ancient Kyiv Metropolis differs from the territory of modern Ukraine. RISU decided to clarify this topic, getting advice from historians. Based on this research, we prepared an infographic.

The first question that arises concerning Ukraine is this: with what right and based on which holy canons, does Russia today claim the ecclesiastical and administrative dependency of the Metropolis of Kyiv?

In the morning of Saturday 6th October, His Holiness Pope Francis received in a private audience H.E. Msgr. Claudio Gugerotti, Titular Archbishop of Ravello, Apostolic Nuncio in Ukraine, the Apostolic Nunciature in Ukraine reports.

The official website of the Apostolic Nunciature in Ukraine made an amendment to the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine that the Holy See respects the decision of the Ukrainian people to establish the One Local Church.

The Apostolic Nuncio presented a gift to the Holy Father – a glass candle holder in the form of a rose, which the Catholics from Donbas wanted to offer to the Pope as a sign of loyalty and gratitude on the occasion of the last visit of Nuncio in the region.

On June 14, 2017, Administrator of the UOC (MP), Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanych) met with the Apostolic Nuncio in Ukraine Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti. It was reported by Information and Education Department of the UOC (MP).

Apostolic Nunciature to Ukraine also informed that at various occasions, some high-ranking persons at the Secretariat of State met the Ambassador of Ukraine to the Holy See to express some concerns about the bills. Similar questions were raised by the Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine with some representatives of the Ukrainian government.

You as his messenger attended even those places where our bishops can not get to accomplish their pastoral ministry [meaning territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions temporarily under control of Russia-backed militants, RISU]. To the parishes in Donetsk and Luhansk, over which we have a duty to care, a hand of the Church reached through your visit”, said the patriarch

Following the meeting with Cardinal Secretary of State of the Holy See Pietro Parolin, President Petro Poroshenko noted that Ukraine and the Vatican City have an efficient dialogue. He underscored high attention of the Holy See to Ukraine and the issues of security on the European continent, President's official web page informs.

Secretary of State will visit Kyiv, Lviv and Zaporizhia and will meet Ukrainian politicians, leadership, clergy and faithful of the Churches and religious organizations, IDPs and other groups affected by war in eastern Ukraine.

The framework of the Committee’s activity is being formed, but it is known that to determine individual cases of aid provision it will resort to the proposals that would be send by interreligious or interfaith bodies in some regions, bishops, including non-Catholic, and other organizations.